Stay chic in the heat with the perfect packing list
Are you going on a trip? What to pack is a common dilemma when it’s time to catch a flight or go on a road trip. Creating a summer capsule wardrobe is fun, but it’s also necessary every time you travel. In this article, we look at 5 different examples of a classic summer capsule wardrobe.
3 easy steps to create your own classic summer capsule wardrobe
Decide on a color palette
The easiest way to achieve a functional and cohesive capsule wardrobe is to decide on 1-4 colors and stick to them. This way, you ensure that most of your clothes can be worn together.
Decide on the number of clothes you want to include
In this classic summer capsule wardrobe, I’ve included 10 pieces of clothing. But you can easily extend them by packing a few extra tops. Choosing a number beforehand will make it much easier to restrain yourself.
Decide which type of clothes you need to bring
A blazer? A shirtdress? Two skirts?
One reason I did these 5 examples was that I wanted to showcase how the kind of clothes you choose is of the essence for a good capsule. They should reflect your personal taste and style. In these wardrobes, I choose classic clothes such as shirts, polo tops, and midi skirts.
Classic summer capsule wardrobe example 1
Upper row: Cream blazer. Black cardigan. Red blouse.White knitted polo. Black tank top.
Lower row: Cream pants. Red maxi skirt. Black midi skirt. Black tailored shorts. Cream shirtdress.
classic summer capsule wardrobe example 1
If someone asked me to create the ultimate classic summer capsule wardrobe, this is exactly what I would come up with. You could change the colors to reflect your taste, but the formula is pretty close to perfection, if you ask me.
A versatile wardrobe
Things don’t get more classic than this. The cardigan can be worn over the other tops, the blazer can be worn with everything.
This small but effective capsule wardrobe is enough for you to look both dressed up and casual (but still chic).
How to extend a capsule wardrobe
For a longer trip, I would just add three tops. When you create a capsule wardrobe, you can have 2-3 tops for every bottom and get a very good result.
Classic summer capsule wardrobe example 2
Upper row: Tweed jacket. Striped shirt. White blouse. Blue knitted top. White T-shirt.
Lower row: Blue linen pants. Midi skirt. White shorts. Denim skirt. Printed dress.
classic summer capsule wardrobe example 2
In this equally classic capsule wardrobe, I wanted to include some clothes that didn’t make it to the first one. For example, a tweed blazer, a shirt, and a fine-knitted top.
I also wanted to show that when you incorporate a color in your wardrobe, the shades don’t need to be the same. You just need to make sure that you can wear most things together.
A pair of colored pants is a fun way to add some spice to your classic wardrobe.
One accent color
Another good strategy when you create your wardrobe is to choose two basic colors and one accent color. This way, you don’t risk creating a capsule wardrobe that’s too boring; bring on the color.
Another smart trick is to include a printed dress, since the dress is a stand-alone piece, it only has to work with the jacket.
Classic summer capsule wardrobe example 3
Upper row: Navy blazer. Brown cardigan. Navy shirt. Navy silk T-shirt. Brown top.
Lower row: Bown linen pants. Navy pleated skirt. Brown shorts. Brown silk skirt. Navy dress.
classic summer capsule wardrobe example 3
With this wardrobe, I wanted to choose the brilliance of picking only two colors. Many people think brown and blue don’t match, but I love them together just because they’re unexpected.
Column dressing
I also wanted to show the power of column dressing. You create a column by choosing a top and a bottom in the same color. If you want to spice things up, you add a jacket in a different color.
By utilizing this way of dressing, you achieve a classic look. Many classic outfits are built on column dressing, it just looks more elegant.
If you want more capsule wardrobe examples, read my article Summer capsule wardrobe for women over 50, Summer 2023.
Classic summer capsule wardrobe example 4
Upper row: Camel blazer. White shirt. Black boat neck top. White sleeveless shirt. Black body.
Lower row: White linen pants. Gingham midi skirt. Camel midi skirt. Camel shorts. Printed dress.
classic summer capsule wardrobe example 4
With this example, I wanted to show how you can create a classic capsule wardrobe by choosing three classic colors.
Nothing is more classic than black, white, and camel. Because of your color choice, any outfit you pull together will look instantly chic.
I also wanted to showcase the versatility of two different white shirts. The two black tops also give you lots of options, while still looking incredibly elegant.
Classic summer capsule wardrobe example 5
Upper row: Cream denim jacket. White cardigan. Purple blouse. White silk T-shirt. Printed blouse.Cream
Lower row: Cream pants. Printed midi skirt. White denim midi skirt. Cream shorts. White polo top.
classic summer capsule wardrobe example 5
There is something classic about white in the summertime. Here I show different shades of white, which will give your outfits a certain nonchalance. The white allows the three colorful pieces to shine.
Clothes with interesting details
To create a capsule wardrobe that’s functional without being boring, consider clothes that have something special about them. For example, the black trim on the white cardigan, the gold buttons on the denim jacket, or the interesting waist of the shorts.
If you want more ideas on what to wear, read my article How to dress like a French woman over 40.
A final note about creating a classic summer capsule wardrobe
As you can see in my creation, creating your capsule wardrobe is about being smart with the choices you have.
10 pieces of clothing is not much. Every piece needs to count and allow you to make exactly the kind of outfits you want to be wearing.
Following the steps I have laid out in this article makes packing a lot easier. Every time you pack, you are forced to create a capsule wardrobe.
Having a classic and elegant style is something most of us dream about; I hope I have shown you exactly how it is done.
Moa Ailert is the founder and editor-in-chief of Her Brilliant Friend.
She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and plenty of insight into human psychology from traveling and living in different places around the world.
Moa is currently based in Portugal where she has a guesthouse; Villa dos Irmaos.
She has various websites, among others Ericeira Insider, but Her brilliant friend is her true passion project.
